I would be at Spurs or Arsenal, explains Southampton star

Morgan Schneiderlin has confessed that he could well be playing for Tottenham or Arsenal now if Southampton hadn’t blocked his wishes for a move.

The France international was expected to be one of the Saints’ high profile evacuees over the summer, with the north London duo having pushed hard to lure him away from the South Coast in what was a busy summer for the Saints.

Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, Rickie Lambert, Luke Shaw and Calum Chambers all left St Mary’s Stadium, which led to talk that Schneiderlin would follow them deep into the transfer window.

But Southampton held firm to keep their midfield ace by slapping a £27m valuation on him, and despite reported bids from Spurs the 24-year-old is still plying his trade in Hampshire.

Schneiderlin admits that he was disappointed to not have been granted his wish for a move, but that he is fully committed to repaying the faith the club have shown in him since bringing him to England from Strasbourg as a youngster:

“My situation was simple: at the end of the season my goal was to take the next step and join a club playing in the Champions League or the Europa League.” He is quoted by Goal.

“There were offers on the table but Southampton made a clear choice, which was to keep me after the departure of certain players. They look to me for the future.

“I was ‘blocked’ but I must accept that because I have three years remaining on my contract. I could not afford to make a fuss and not play. I owe a lot to Southampton, who enabled me to make the France national team.

“I could not afford to go and clash with supporters who have always been cool with me. It would not have cool for me to end up in an endless showdown.”